Chapter 9

"Am I making you bored Lucy?" Gray asked Lucy who seems to be spacing out. "Huh? No, it's just that…." Lucy looked away trying to keep what she's thinking of. "Common' Lucy, tell me." Gray said with concern. "Umm.. I just miss doing this with Natsu that's all." Lucy said embarrassed. And Gray only chuckled, "Don't worry, once they've come back we'll ask 'em here." He said with assurance. Lucy seems to be delight and smiled brightly at him and nodded enthusiastically. Gray smiled and continue to talk to her about many things.

"By the way, where do you want to go next?" Gray asked Lucy after they finished fishing and they start walking out of the forest. It's already afternoon when they decided to leave the forest. "I heard there's a night market around Magnolia, want to go there?" Lucy suggested, and Gray nodded.

"Are you prepared for the ball?" Gray suddenly asked while they are walking around the night market. "Oh! Mira and Erza will help me with that." Lucy said and bought a red popsicle from the vendor and give the other one to Gray and he accepted it. "How about you?" Lucy asked back, and Gray only smirked.

"Are you really going?" Gray asked again, Lucy looked at Gray with a questioning look before she answered his question. "I'm going, why?" Gray sighed and replied, "Nothing." Lucy looked at him with knotted forehead and just shrugged. "I think we should visit the guild." Gray suddenly announced. "Mm-hmm" Lucy nodded.

"Why you little bitch…" Lucy shivered upon hearing those cold voice as they enter the guild. She saw Juvia glaring daggers at her and she cannot hide the fear upon meeting Juvia's dark eyes. She saw the angriness and jealousy in her eyes. Juvia is about to reach Lucy's hair when Gray come over between them. "Don't do it Juvia." Gray said almost a whisper and looked at Juvia, she stepped back upon seeing Gray's serious face and everybody in the guild went silent.

"Why? Juvia almost gave everything to Gray-sama but still, he still chose Lucy over Juvia? Why?!" Juvia sobbed as her knees fell on the floor, tears can't stop from falling. Lisanna was about to come over Juvia when she felt Cana gripped her arms. Cana shook her head, "Let them there." Lisanna looked at her confused, "But—" Cana cut her off "They know what they are doing." And Lisanna only looked at Juvia's miserable state.

Gray sighed and bended on his knee to face Juvia. "Juvia, look at me." He said and held her chin. "Juvia, you're a beautiful women. You're caring, sweet, other guys would fall for you. But Juvia, I don't deserve it. I know someone is better than me. There is someone who will appreciate your love and will also return it back to you. Me, I'm not the one. I'm sorry Juvia." And Juvia's tears almost flow all over her face. "Does *sniff* even Lucy deserve you?" Gray was shocked upon hearing those words from the water mage. Gray chuckled and looked at her little amusement filled his eyes that made Juvia stopped crying.

"I don't know." Gray plainly said and looked at his side where Lucy is standing with teary eyes, her both hands in her mouth. He looked at her again. "You know there are so many things that couldn't explain just by word. I love Lucy. I really love her from the very start." Almost all of the guild members gasped and even Lucy was surprised by what the ice-mage said.

"I don't mind if she don't deserve me. Well, as long as I love her that would be enough for me. But still I want her to love me the way I love her too. And I'm willing to wait till that day come." Gray looked at Lucy when he said the last sentence that made Lucy blushed.

"C'mon, get up." Gray said as he stood up, and lend his hands for Juvia. Juvia wiped first her tears away from her cheeks and held his hands and stood up. Juvia wiped her nosed and sniffed making Gray chuckle and mess her hair. Juvia looked at Lucy and on the other hand Lucy can't still hide her fear, "Juvia-, I'm sorry." Lucy's eyes widen and her mouth open, and close again. "I'm sorry, I'm acting like a child. I'm thinking of myself again. Sorry." Juvia said and looked away from her. Lucy smiled seeing Juvia's action, she step forward and to Juvia's surprised, Lucy hugged her. "It's fine." Lucy said before facing Juvia "You know, sometimes we cannot control ourselves from doing something, but seeing you do this. I'm, I envy you." Lucy said smiling. Juvia looked surprised, "Y-you? Me?" Juvia pointed herself then cry again. "Why are you so kind?! Waaaaaaa. You're so kind I envy you too." And everybody in the guild laugh because of Juvia's childish manner. "Friends?" Lucy moved away from the embrace and held out her hand. Juvia nodded and accept her hand, "Friends." Juvia confirmed and all in the guild yelled in happiness. "Finally!" Cana yelled, Happy fly all over the guild while shouting, "They love each other!" And Natsu shouted, "Let's all celebrate!" Raising his beer and all of the guild agrred.

They celebrate in the guild all night long. Everybody is happy of what happened. Until they all end up drunk, and the guild is in mess. Lucy woke up and looked over her nakamas sleeping. She looked at happy whispering about his fish while sleeping, the cat obviously dreaming and she chuckle. She looked around until her eyes stopped at a particular person, she stood up and went where the ice-mage is sleeping. She touch his cheeks and Gray let out a grunt, "Mm, don't touch me, I'm already Lucy's property." The ice-mage making the celestial mage chuckle even more.

Author's Note: Sorrrrryyyy for so late update. :3 Enjoy. :D